Chapter 28

28

The sounds of a child crying were what woke him. For a moment, Chad thought he was still at the hospital and it was Ryan. Then his brain started working and he realized where he was. He stayed in the bed and listened to the sounds of a woman soothing that child.

Chances were good it was Genny. She had taken on a lot of the mothering role for her brother Gene’s little boy. He stood. If it was Genny, he wasn’t going to miss this opportunity to spend just a few quiet moments with her after Calvin was back to sleep. If he was lucky, he’d get to cuddle her for a little while, too.

He wanted that woman to the bottom of his soul.

But to his shock, his sister sat in the rocking chair next to the big glass windows in the Hillers’ living room. She held Gene’s son snuggled on her lap, just rocking. “Chad, I didn’t know you were here.”

“I came back with Genny and Gia. Too tired to drive home, and I didn’t want to wake Mom and Dad. What are you doing here?”

“I stayed. With Gene. Although he slept in his room, and I slept in Greer’s old one, before you go find him and stomp him completely.” Chantal sent him a look of challenge. “He behaved himself. Mostly.”

Well, he wasn’t touching that with a thousand-foot pole. He just took a deep breath—his sister was a grown woman of thirty. He wasn’t going to go caveman here. He wasn’t. He reminded himself of that again.

“I’m not going to tell you what to do.” Hell, if he could find a way to sneak into Genny’s bedroom tonight and take advantage of her, of course he would. He wouldn’t be hypocritical where his own sister was concerned. “Just… are you sure? I only want you happy.”

“He does make me happy. Funny, how quickly things can change.” Her hand cupped the little boy’s head and she just rocked. He’d always thought she’d be a beautiful mother. He’d watched her with Charlie’s son Jaden time and time again. It had hurt them all so much when that boy had died.

Chad still felt guilty he hadn’t realized his own nephew was so sick. Charlie’s wife had always refused to come to him for medical advice where Jaden was concerned. She’d almost done what she could to keep Jaden away from Charlie’s family as much as possible. He and Charlie had speculated later that she hadn’t wanted them to figure out that Jaden hadn’t been Charlie’s biological son.

Like that would have mattered to any of them.

They had loved that boy so much. He loved this woman so much, too. He told her that, too.

He sat with his sister and talked, as she rocked. Until Gene came looking for her.

Chad watched a man he’d considered one of his closest friends in the world look at Chad’s sister like she was his entire world; and it felt right. Like this was the way it was supposed to be now. Gene would love her, and take care of her, and if they made it a permanent thing, it would be wonderful. Good for them all.

He couldn’t want anything more for his baby sister than that. Chad left them alone. They deserved this sweet, quiet moment together.

He headed back up the stairs—just to slam into a small woman coming around the corner.

His hands wrapped around Genny’s waist and he lifted her. “ Shhh. You don’t want to wake anyone else in this house of chaos.”

He had her now. Almost right where he wanted her. Almost.

“I thought I heard Calvin,” Genny said, her words muffled against his neck. “What are you doing up? You are supposed to be exhausted and sound asleep in George’s bed. Not wandering around my house in my brother’s jammie bottoms.”

“Chantal is here, apparently. She and Gene have Calvin in the living room.” She didn’t weigh much; he just kept walking. Closer to the bedrooms.

To the beds.

He knew what he wanted. He was about to go caveman with her here. At any moment. He hoped she was prepared.

“Giavonna told me Chan was here, but she was already asleep—in Greer’s room. I think. Greer’s room and Gene’s are right next door and at the opposite end of the hall. They share a balcony.”

He knew. It was almost perfect. If he could just toss Gunn outside to sleep in the barn so Preacher Man wouldn’t hear what Chad did to the man’s little sister, it would be completely perfect.

But…Genny’s room was between George and Gunn’s. If he took her into George’s room…and if they were quiet…

Well, that was exactly where Chad carried her.